JP5171504B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program used for a printer, a multifunction machine, and the like.

This type of image forming apparatus is connected to a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) together with a plurality of terminals. The image forming apparatus receives job information from the terminal and prints a toner image based on the image data of the information on a sheet.
Here, a technique is known in which printing contents are limited in advance for each terminal (for example, see Patent Document 1). This is because password management is facilitated if the print contents are restricted in advance.

JP 2003-87454 A

  However, in the above conventional technique, the entire image data is permitted / restricted. With this, all of the image data becomes clear or unclear, and only a part of the image data remains clear. There is a problem that it is not possible to respond to the request to print and the rest to be blurred.

The problem also exists not only in printing but also in preview display for displaying this data on the terminal screen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a program for solving the above-described problems and making a part of image data visible in a clear state.

  According to a first aspect of the invention for achieving the above object, there is provided a data acquisition unit for acquiring job information including image data created by a terminal and visible authentication information related to the image data, and one image to which the authentication information is added. Of the data, a visible permission unit that sets a portion where visibility is permitted and a portion where visibility is not permitted, and a visual execution unit that allows a portion where visibility is permitted to be clearly visible are provided.

According to the first invention, the image forming apparatus includes a data acquisition unit, a visibility permission unit, and a visibility execution unit. First, the data acquisition unit includes job information including image data created by the terminal. Visible authentication information regarding image data is also acquired from the terminal.
Here, the visible permission unit can set a part of permission, that is, a part where visibility is permitted and a part where visibility is not permitted, in one image data to which visible authentication information is added. Then, the visual execution unit makes the portion where visibility is permitted to be clearly visible on the terminal.
As described above, the combination of the job information and the visible authentication information allows a part of the image data to be visible in a clear state, so that a portion that is clearly visible as compared with the prior art can be used effectively.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, when the visible execution unit is requested to be visible at a location where visibility is not permitted, the visible execution unit performs image processing on the location where visibility is not permitted. It is characterized by not being clearly visible.
According to the second invention, in addition to the action of the first invention, when the visibility of the portion where the visibility is not permitted is requested, it is not preferable to make it clearly visible according to this request. Therefore, the visible execution unit performs image processing on the portion where the visibility is not permitted, and does not make it clearly visible, and makes the visibility unclear. Therefore, the effective use of the said location after that can be prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, when the visible execution unit is requested to be visible at a location that is not permitted to be visible, the visible execution unit excludes the portion that is not permitted from being an output target. It is characterized by not being visible.
According to the third invention, in addition to the action of the first invention, even if the visibility of the portion where the visibility is not permitted is requested, the portion where the visibility is not permitted is excluded from the output target, so that it is visible. Therefore, the processing period required for this can be shortened.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first to third aspects, the visual execution unit is made visible to a terminal other than the image forming apparatus or the terminal, and the fifth aspect is the first to fourth aspects. In the configuration of the invention, the visible is printing or preview.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is a program for an image forming apparatus that makes image data created by a terminal visible to other terminals. This program is provided in the computer of the image forming apparatus. The computer acquires job information including image data and visible authentication information related to the image data, and one image to which the authentication information is added. In the data, a procedure for setting a portion where visibility is allowed and a location where visibility is not allowed is set, and a procedure for making the portion where visibility is allowed clear is executed.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image data created by the terminal is set with a portion where visibility is permitted and a portion where visibility is not permitted, and a portion of the image data can be seen in a clear state. It is possible to effectively use a portion that is clearly visible as compared to the conventional case without authentication information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and a program that can make a part of image data visible in a clear state by a combination of job information and authentication information.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a system having an image forming apparatus 4 according to the present embodiment. The system 1 is configured using a network 2 such as a LAN, for example, and includes one apparatus 4 and a total of four apparatuses. PCs (terminals, other terminals) 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D are connected to the network 2, respectively.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus. The device 4 is connected to the network 2 via a network interface (IF) 26 and further connected to a public line. The apparatus 4 is a digital multi-function peripheral, which is a so-called multi-function peripheral device (hereinafter referred to as MFP). The MFP 4 executes various operations in accordance with program instructions.

The MFP 4 has a controller 10. The MFP 4 further includes an HDD 32, a network interface 26, a FAX communication unit 24, a scanner unit 22, a print engine 20, an operation panel 28, and a memory 30, which are connected to the controller 10 via a bus.
The HDD 32 is a writable non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk drive, and the image data read by the scanner unit 22, the image data transmitted from the PC 6A, the image data received by the FAX communication unit 24, the image Various electronic files such as job information related to data are sequentially stored. In addition to the various electronic files described above, the HDD 32 stores visible authentication information of each user who operates the PC 6A and the like.

The network interface 26 communicates various data via the network 2 using a protocol such as SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) or SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol). For example, data transmitted from the remote PC 6 is received. Further, the network interface 26 transmits data stored in the HDD 32 to the other party via the network 2.
The FAX communication unit 24 is connected to a telephone line or the network 2 and receives data transmitted from the outside by facsimile. Conversely, the data stored in the HDD 32 is transmitted by facsimile to the other party.
The scanner unit 22 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) that conveys a document to an image reading position, and sequentially reads images of a plurality of documents.
The print engine 20 prints image data stored in the HDD 32 on paper.
The print engine 20 of this embodiment includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) that transports a document to an image reading position of the scanner unit 22, a sheet supply unit that supplies a sheet, an image forming unit that transfers an image to a sheet, a transfer It is connected to a post-processing device or the like that performs sorting, punching, stapling, and the like on the finished paper.

The MFP 4 includes an operation panel 28. The panel 28 has buttons for touch operation, accepts user operations, provides various services to the PC 6A, etc., and can also change settings of the MFP 4. Further, the panel 28 can also display a message to the user using character information, a guidance image, or the like. The operation panel 28 also has a function of displaying a preview of the image data stored in the HDD 32.
The MFP 4 includes a memory 30, which includes a ROM, a RAM, and the like, and stores setting data associated with printing and various programs.

In the box area 34 of the HDD 32, in addition to the various electronic files described above, the IP address of the PC 6A used by each user is stored.
Various operations of the MFP 4 are controlled by the controller 10. The controller 10 is an element that functions as a computer and has hardware resources such as a CPU. The controller 10 uses the hardware resources to execute a predetermined program and operates the print engine 20, the scanner unit 22, and the FAX communication unit 24 described above.

By the way, the controller 10 of the present embodiment can set partial permission for visible (for example, printing) of image data to the PC 6A or the like.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the controller 10 includes a data acquisition unit 12, and the data acquisition unit 12 acquires job information including image data created by, for example, the PC 6 </ b> A from the HDD 32.

The job information is information that can specify job contents such as the file name, file size, and IP address of the PC used by the user in addition to the image data. The job information is transmitted from the PC 6A as the creator and is sent to the HDD 32. Pre-stored.
The data acquisition unit 12 also acquires visible authentication information regarding the image data, and outputs the visible authentication information to the visible permission unit 14.

  The visible authentication information in this embodiment is user authentication information that proves a person who has a confidentiality obligation. More specifically, assuming a case where only the third page of the image data for a total of 10 pages created by the PC 6A is permitted to be printed on condition that the person has a confidentiality obligation, In this visible authentication information, the IP address of the PC used by the user of the person who has the confidentiality duty is described together with the visible target page (for example, the third page).

  Next, the visibility permitting unit 14 permits all visible to the PCs 6B, 6C, and 6D (all permitted) or does not permit all (not permitted) for one image data to which the visible authentication information is added. ) Alternatively, a part permission, that is, a place where visibility to the PCs 6B, 6C, and 6D is permitted and a place where visibility is not permitted can be set.

In the above example, the visibility permission unit 14 sets the third page as a location where visibility is permitted, and sets the other pages as locations where visibility is not permitted. Output to.
In addition to the permission for a predetermined page in the image data, the visibility permission unit 14 can also permit the lower half of the page.

Then, the visual execution unit 16 determines that the portion where the visibility is permitted is to be clearly visible using the immediately preceding printing condition, and outputs the determination result to the print engine 20.
On the other hand, the visual execution unit 16 determines that a portion that is not permitted to be visible is subjected to image processing so that it is not clearly visible, or is excluded from a print output target, and is not visible. 20 is output.

More specifically, FIG. 3 shows processing that the program causes the controller 10 to execute. Hereinafter, the operation according to the present invention of the MFP 4 configured as described above will be described.
Here, it is assumed that the image data for a total of 10 pages is generated by the PC 6A and the MFP 4 prints the image data in response to a request from the PCs 6B, 6C, and 6D other than the PC 6A. To do.

Specifically, the PCs 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D belong to the same department, but the PC 6B has a duty of confidentiality for all image data created by the PC 6A, and the PC 6A creates the created image. Data may be disclosed to the PC 6B.
The PC 6C is a person who has a confidentiality obligation for the third page of the image data. That is, the PC 6A may disclose only the third page of the image data to the PC 6C.

On the other hand, the PC 6D is a person who has no duty of confidentiality for the third page, and the PC 6A does not disclose all the image data to the PC 6D.
First, the MFP 4 acquires job information and visible authentication information including the image data from the PC 6 </ b> A and stores them in the HDD 32. Here, the visible authentication information of the present embodiment is entirely permitted for the PC 6B (all visible target pages are all pages), partially permitted for the PC 6C (visible target page is the third page), and for the PC 6D. Is not allowed.

In the above example, in this visible authentication information, the user IP address of the PC 6B is described together with the target page (for example, the first to tenth pages) of the file name, and the user IP address of the PC 6C is the target page of the file name. (For example, page 3). This IP address (hereinafter referred to as a user IP address) is handled as user authentication information for specifying a user who uses the PC 6B.
Subsequently, when the above-described PC 6B accesses the MFP 4 to print the image data, in step S301 in the figure, the data acquisition unit 12 acquires this job information from the HDD 32, and the process proceeds to step S302.

  In step S302, the visible permission unit 14 acquires visible authentication information from the HDD 32, and determines whether or not all of the image data can be clearly printed. Since the PC 6B has a duty of confidentiality for all the image data, the printing of this data is permitted, the determination is YES, the process proceeds to step S303, and the visual execution unit 16 prints the data to the print engine 20. Instruct to exit a series of routines. As a result, all pages are printed clearly.

  On the other hand, when the above-described PC 6D accesses the MFP 4, in step S301, the data acquisition unit 12 acquires job information, and in step S302, the visible permission unit 14 acquires visible authentication information and prints the image data. The PC 6D is a person who does not have any confidentiality obligation regarding the image data as described above.

Therefore, the process proceeds from step S302 to step S304, and the visibility permission unit 14 determines whether or not a part of the image data can be printed.
However, since the PC 6D is also a person who has no confidentiality obligation for any page, a part of the printing is not permitted, and the determination is NO and the process proceeds to step S312. Then, the visible execution unit 16 displays an error “printing is not permitted for this data” on the screen of the PC 6D and exits a series of routines.

On the other hand, when the above-described PC 6C accesses the MFP 4 to print the image data, the data acquisition unit 12 acquires job information (step S301), the visibility permission unit 14 acquires visible authentication information, and the image It is determined whether data can be printed (step S302).
Here, the PC 6C is a person who has a confidentiality obligation for the third page as described above. Accordingly, the process proceeds from step S302 to step S304. In this step S304, the visible permission unit 14 recognizes printing of a part of the image data, that is, determines YES and proceeds to step S305.

  In step S305 of the present embodiment, the visibility permitting unit 14 determines whether or not printing is requested only at a location where visibility is not permitted, and only the location where the PC 6C does not permit visibility (for example, the second page). If only the eyes or all pages except the third page) are designated, that is, if it is determined YES, the process proceeds to step S306.

In this step S306, the visual execution unit 16 acquires the image data designated by the PC 6C from the data acquisition unit 12, and proceeds to step S307 to select a printing method at a location where visibility is not permitted.
As a printing method for the portion, image processing such as reducing the resolution of the corresponding page or applying a filter is performed.

If the resolution conversion has been set in advance on the panel 28 or the like, the process proceeds to step S308, where the visual execution unit 16 does not permit visibility (for example, only the second page or the third page The resolution of all pages except the eyes) is lowered to such a level that it cannot be read even if it is printed, and the process proceeds to step S309.
In step S309, the visible execution unit 16 generates a print image, and then instructs the print engine 20 to print the data (step S303), and the series of routines is exited. As a result, even if specified in the PC 6C, a page that does not permit visibility is printed unclearly.

  If image composition has been preset, the process proceeds to step S310. At this time, the visual execution unit 16 filters portions that are not permitted to be visible (for example, only the second page or all pages except the third page), and superimposes other images on the original image. . The visible execution unit 16 generates a print image (step S309), instructs the print engine 20 to print the data (step S303), and exits a series of routines. Even in this case, a page that does not permit visibility is printed unclearly.

On the other hand, if the PC 6C designates only the third page, for example, or designates all pages of the image data so as to designate all pages, at least the third page is designated. The permission unit 14 determines NO and proceeds to step S311.
In step S311, the visual execution unit 16 excludes portions that are not permitted to be visible, that is, pages other than the third page from the output target, and proceeds to step S309 to generate a print image.

Therefore, the visual execution unit 16 in this case instructs the print engine 20 to print only the portion where visibility is permitted, and exits a series of routines. Therefore, only the page allowing visibility is clearly printed, and visibility is not permitted. The page will not be printed.
By the way, the visibility may be a preview display for displaying data on the operation panel 28 in addition to the printing described above.

  Details will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 4 shows processing that the program causes the controller 10 to execute. In the example shown in FIG. 4 as well, in the same manner as the above-described embodiment (example shown in FIG. 3), all of the preview display is permitted (steps S402 and S403) from the acquisition of job information (step S401) or not. In addition to the permission (steps S402, S404, and S412), a partial permission, that is, the above-described location where the visibility to the PC 6C and the location where the visibility is not permitted can be set (steps S402, S404, and S405). 411). Here, each user accesses the MFP 4 by inputting a user ID on the operation panel 28 instead of accessing the MFP 4 from the PC 6B or the like in the above embodiment. This user ID corresponds to the user IP address in the above embodiment, and is handled as user authentication information of a user who uses the PC 6B or the like. In this embodiment, each user is described by a PC name such as PC 6B, and the visible authentication information for each user is the same as that of the PC having the same name in the above embodiment (example shown in FIG. 3). To do.

In the case of partial permission, in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, in the case where preview display is requested only in a portion where visibility is not permitted in step S405, the resolution of the corresponding page is reduced or the filter is filtered. (Steps S408 and S410), and when a preview display including at least a portion allowing visibility is requested, the portion other than the portion allowing visibility is excluded from the output target and displayed ( Step S411).
Note that the entire screen of the operation panel 28 cannot normally be displayed unless the image data is reduced. Therefore, a part of the image data is displayed or the entire image data is displayed with a reduced resolution. Therefore, in step S408, the resolution is further lowered as compared with the case where a portion where visibility is permitted is displayed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the MFP 4 includes the data acquisition unit 12, the visibility permission unit 14, and the visibility execution unit 16. First, the data acquisition unit 12 uses the image data created by the PC 6A. In addition to the job information including, the visible authentication information regarding the image data is also acquired from the PC 6A via the HDD 32.
Here, the visible permission unit 14 is partly visible, that is, in one image data to which the visible authentication information is added, in the above example, the part that is visible (printing / preview display) to the PC 6C is visible. You can set each location that is not allowed. Then, the visible execution unit 16 makes the visible part clearly visible on the PC 6C.

  As described above, since a part of the image data can be seen in a clear state by combining the job information and the visible authentication information, since only the job information and no user authentication are provided, all of the image data can be displayed. Compared with the conventional method in which the image becomes clear or unclear, the portion that is clearly visible can be used effectively, contributing to the improvement in versatility of the MFP 4.

  In addition, when the PC 6C described above designates a location that is not permitted to be visible, it is not preferable that the designated location is clearly visible. Therefore, the visual execution unit 16 clearly reduces the resolution of the data or applies a filter to the original image so that another image is superimposed on the original image. I won't let you. Therefore, the effective use of the said location after that can be prevented.

Furthermore, in the case where the PC 6C has also specified a portion that does not permit visibility in addition to the location that allows visibility, the visibility execution unit 16 excludes the location that does not permit visibility from the output target. The processing period required for visualizing can be shortened, and unnecessary printing and paper can be suppressed.
In the above embodiment, the case where the image data is printed by accessing the MFP 4 from the PC 6B or the like and the case where the user accesses the MFP 4 from the operation panel 28 and previews the image data on the operation panel 28 have been described. Can also be applied when the user accesses the MFP 4 from the operation panel 28 to print image data, and when the user accesses the MFP 4 from the PC 6B or the like to preview the image data on the screen of the PC 6B or the like. In this case, the access to the MFP 4 may be performed in the same manner as in the above embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, a part of the configurations of the above embodiments can be omitted or arbitrarily combined so as to be different from the above.
The above-described MFP 4 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and the present invention is naturally applicable to a copying machine, a printer, a scanner, a facsimile, and the like.

1 is a configuration diagram of a system having an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of print processing by a controller of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of preview display by the controller of FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

4 MFP (image forming device)
6A PC (terminal)
6C PC (other terminals)
10 Controller (computer)
12 Data acquisition unit 14 Visible permission unit 16 Visible execution unit

Claims (6)

A data acquisition unit that acquires job information including image data created on a terminal and visible authentication information related to the image data;
A visible permission unit that sets a portion that allows visibility and a portion that does not allow visibility, in one image data to which the authentication information is added;
A visible execution unit that makes the visibility visible is clearly visible ,
The visible permission unit is:
Determine whether visibility of only the location that does not allow the visibility is required,
The visible execution unit is:
When the visibility of only the portion that does not permit the visibility is requested, the portion that does not permit the visibility is subjected to image processing so that it is not clearly visible, and the location that allows the visibility together with the portion that does not permit the visibility The image forming apparatus is characterized in that when the visibility including at least is requested, a portion where the visibility is not permitted is excluded from an output target and is not visible .   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
  The visible execution unit is:
Location that does not allow visibilityonlyIf visibility of is required,As the image processing, the resolution of the image data corresponding to the portion where the visibility is not permitted is reduced.An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
The visible execution unit is:
An image forming apparatus characterized by filtering an initial image of the image data as the image processing when visibility of only a portion that is not permitted to be visible is requested. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The visible execution unit, an image forming apparatus which comprises causing visible to the image forming instrumentation ring is set to other than the terminal. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visible is a print or a preview. A program for an image forming apparatus that makes image data created on a terminal visible to other terminals,
The program is provided in a computer of the image forming apparatus.
A procedure for acquiring job information including the image data and visible authentication information regarding the image data, respectively.
A procedure for setting a portion where visibility is allowed and a location where visibility is not allowed in one image data to which the authentication information is added ,
A procedure for determining whether visibility of only a portion that does not permit the visibility is required;
In the step of determining, when the visibility of only the portion that does not allow the visibility is requested, the procedure for performing the image processing for making the portion that does not permit the visibility not clearly visible, and
In the step of determining, when the visibility including at least the location where the visibility is permitted is requested together with the location where the visibility is not permitted, the location where the visibility is permitted is clearly visible, while the visibility is not permitted. A program to execute the procedure to remove from the output target for the location .

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